CPAP systems

#The present application is a national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/AU2010/001462 filed Nov. 3, 2010, published in English, which claims priority from Australian Provisional Application No. 2009905945 filed Dec. 7, 2009 and Australian Provisional Application No. 2009905363 filed Nov. 3, 2009, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

#The present invention relates to a PAP system and air delivery tubing that delivers breathable gas to a patient.

#Colin Sullivan was the first to invent the use of nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), e.g., see U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,310. The treatment generally provides a supply of air or breathable gas from a blower to a patient via an air delivery conduit and a patient interface, such as a full-face or nasal mask or nasal prongs. The air or breathable gas is commonly delivered at a pressure of 3 cm H2O to 25 cm H2O and acts as a splint to hold the airway open during sleep.

#The accompanying drawings facilitate an understanding of the various embodiments of this invention. In such drawings:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a CPAP system;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a CPAP system;

#A CPAP system generally includes a flow generator, an air delivery conduit, and a patient interface. In use, the flow generator generates a supply of pressurized air that is delivered to the patient via an air delivery conduit that includes one end coupled to the outlet of the flow generator and an opposite end coupled to the patient interface. The patient interface comfortably engages the patient's face and provides a seal. The patient interface may have any suitable configuration as is known in the art, e.g., full-face mask, nasal mask, oro-nasal mask, mouth mask, nasal prongs, etc. Also, any suitable headgear arrangement may be utilized to comfortably support the patient interface in a desired position on the patient's face.

#As schematically shown in FIG. 1, a PAP system (e.g., CPAP system) generally includes a PAP device 10, an air delivery conduit 20 (also referred to as a tube or tubing), and a patient interface 50. In use, the PAP device 10 generates a supply of pressurized air that is delivered to the patient via an air delivery conduit 20 that includes one end coupled to the outlet of the PAP device 10 and an opposite end coupled to the inlet of the patient interface 50. The patient interface comfortably engages the patient's face and provides a seal. The patient interface or mask may have any suitable configuration as is known in the art, e.g., full-face mask, nasal mask, oro-nasal mask, mouth mask, nasal prongs, etc. Also, headgear may be utilized to comfortably support the patient interface in a desired position on the patient's face.

#In embodiments, a humidifier may be incorporated or integrated into the PAP device or otherwise provided downstream of the PAP device. In such embodiments, the air delivery conduit 20 may be provided between the patient interface 50 and the outlet of the humidifier 15 as schematically shown in FIG. 2.